Posted in Renewable Energy

Seven of Australia’s most Sustainable National Parks

National Parks of Australia – Our Seven Wonders

When trying to live a sustainable life and doing the best for the future of our planet, there’s no better way to motivate yourself to stay on the path of conservation and sustainability, than to look directly into Australia’s back yard, and check out some of the National Parks we have. With such a vast land, we are lucky to live in a country that is still able to help sustain the majestic places our motherland has provided for us.

This week marks Parks Week 2020, so we thought we would remind you of how lucky we truly are, and introduce you to 7 of our top picks of Australia’s National Parks. What’s important is that we remember why it’s so imperative to conserve our country and its pure gifts she has given us, and these seven wonders are a great reminder for that.

CRADLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK – TASMANIA

Photo credit: Get Your Guide

Not only is Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain beautiful to see, the fact that half its alpine flora is endemic and cannot grow anywhere else in the world is a wonder in itself. It’s no surprise why so many Australians travel to the area each year. If you plan to visit, check out TasWlk Co who have built 5 Sustainable Cradle Huts among the forest walk. They have been designed to be completely, ecologically sustainable by using unique waste management practices in these non-polluting and self-contained huts.

PORT CAMPBELL NATIONAL PARK – VICTORIA

Photo credit: Explore the Great Ocean Road

Earning a name like the Shipwreck Coast, Port Campbell National Park is one of the most pristine national parks in Australia. It has stunning coastline formations, and it’s marine and wildlife is present in abundance. If you take a walk at night, you might be lucky enough to see some penguins at dinner time. Don’t forget to explore the London Bridge and the Twelve Apostles.

KOSCIUSZKO NATIONAL PARK – NSW

Photo credit: Camper Mate

Regardless that Australia mostly has a subtropical climate, it also offers some of the best snowfields, caves, fishing spots and national park walks in the World.  Kosciuszko National Park would have to be one of Australia’s top rated ‘National Treasures’. With areas such as Thredo-Perisher, Lower Snowy River, Khancoban, Selwyn, Yarrangobilly, Tumut and High Plains, it’s a ‘must-see’ for any Aussie.

BLUE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – NSW

Photo credit: Planet Ware

If Kosciuszko isn’t enough to boast about, we also have the Blue Mountain National Park. Consisting of 6 areas, including Katoomba, Blackheath, Glenbrook, Lower Gross Valley, Mount Wilson, and Southern Blue Mountains area, this national park has a very European feel to it. Probably why so many visit the forests the area offers year after year. Visiting The Three Sisters is worth the trip to Katoomba alone.

UNDARA VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK – QLD

Photo credit: Wikiwand

Many Australians don’t know that we have a volcanic national park in Australia, let alone that it contains one of the planet’s longest flows of lava, originating from a single volcano. Undara is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘long way’ and the name fits the part, since this lava tube cave system began about 190,000 years ago. The area is also very rich in volcanic basalt soils. Tours are only available through commercial tour organisations to protect the environment and sustain it for future generations.

KARIJINI NATIONAL PARK – WA

Photo credit: Ecoretreat 

This unspoiled, nature-based national park boasts a diverse landscape and is well known for its incredible gorges, that are up to 100 metres in depth. You can find this magical, almost untouched nature strip about 1400km north of Perth. Its majestic creeks are visited by tourists from all over the continent, but surprisingly enough, it is extremely well conserved. Karijini National Park is the second largest natural park in WA, and definitely one to add to your bucket list.

WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK – QLD

Photo credit: Australian Traveler

The Whitsundays. We’ve saved the best for last. This is by far Queensland’s most treasured destinations to visit. Offering the purest silica sand which is almost white in colour, it is home to the most vibrant underwater marine life, making it a popular snorkeling destination. It has crystal clear salt water, creating a translucent underwater heaven that we call the Great Barrier Reef. Don’t forget that humpback whales are also spotted here in abundance.

What’s your favourite wonder from our list?

Embracing Renewable Energy in Kuwait

The Middle East has huge potential when it comes to renewable energy. Due to the all-year-long sunshine, and flat planes, it is a suitable area for solar and wind farms. This potential must be used! Because of that fact, many companies who are in the clean energy business choose to move to Kuwait. Opportunities are endless, and everyone should start embracing renewable energy in Kuwait.

Let’s research this topic a bit more, to discover the true potential and possibilities!

Types of renewable energy sources

In order to better understand the nature of renewable energy sources in Kuwait, it is crucial to learn a bit more about its types. Today, there are seven major renewable energy sources:

  1. Solar power – Solar energy is produced by exploiting the radiant energy of the Sun. Sunlight converts into heat, hot water, or electricity. That is achieved through the help of solar cells and the PV system.
  2. Wind power – Wind energy is produced at wind farms, using turbines. There are 3 types of systems used for the production of wind power: Single wind turbines, commercial-grade systems, and utility-scale wind farms.
    • single wind turbines are most useful for pre-existing energy organisations.
    • commercial-grade systems are used to power multiple organisations
    • utility-scale wind farms are for those who want to purchase on a wholesale or a contract.
  3. Hydroelectric power – When it comes to hydroelectric energy, the most known form is a dam. The water running through the turbines is converted to electric energy.
  4. Oceans – Oceans are massive sources of energy. When it comes to oceans, they can generate thermal and mechanical renewable energy. Thermal energy comes from the warm water surface, while mechanical energy develops due to the flow of the tide.
  5. Geothermal sources – Geothermal energy comes in the form of heat trapped beneath the earth’s crust. You can see these sources in nature, they are called volcanoes and geysers. The way geothermal energy is used is through the steam that is generated at the source.
  6. Biomass – Biomass is a matter that comes from plants or organisms that died. When it is processed, it creates bio energy. A very familiar example is using wood to start a fire. So, bio energy can be created either by burning biomass, or harvesting methane when organic materials decompose.
  7. Hydrogen power – Opposite to other sources, hydrogen must be combined with other elements to produce results. It can be used both for fuel and electric energy.

Kuwait is a fertile ground for solar and wind farms. There lies huge potential, waiting to be exploited. Not only it can be used for business purposes, but also in projects that include self-sustaining homes.

Wind farm at sunset, representing renewable energy in Kuwait

Kuwait is a fantastic area for solar and wind farms, and people must begin to embrace renewable energy in Kuwait

Embracing Renewable Energy in Kuwait

Even though such potential exists, not much is done on the matter of renewable energy in Kuwait. While I do think that raising awareness about renewable energy is the best strategy, there is more to the story. Long term goals for 2030 announce that Kuwait will produce 15% of electric energy thanks to renewable sources. However, current numbers are lower than 1%.

With such potential and conditions, one might wonder why is that.

It’s all about the oil

Let’s face it, Kuwait currently runs on burning fuel oil and imported gas. The volume of oil reserves is massive, and they export around 2m barrels per day. Furthermore, there are plenty of unexploited resources waiting in the background. With such a strong economy, the numbers are looking good. The production cost is also lowered, thanks to demand. Currently, it is just not that important to shift the focus toward renewable energy in Kuwait.

Nevertheless, there is a word of caution in this tale. As with everything else on our planet, oil and gas reserves are limited. That is something that must be taken into consideration. Embracing renewable energy in Kuwait is the strategy for the future! There are plenty of benefits of renewable energy, and that is an opportunity that must not be missed.

Important numbers to look at

Let’s talk a little bit about the situation with renewable energy around the world. Due to the potential benefits, all major countries are trying their best to improve in this area. Due to the demand, the production cost for solar power dropped by a whopping 90%! Even better, it is still declining, and it will continue to do so as long as possible.

On another note, the demand for electricity in Kuwait is becoming larger and larger on a daily basis. Due to the rising population and increased consumption of electric energy, it is essential to look for new, renewable energy sources.

Not only that the renewable energy could help Kuwait on a grand scale, but it would also power neighbouring countries. The potential is big, and the production cost is low.

Moving your business to Kuwait

Thanks to the potential of the market, a lot of companies are choosing to move their offices to Kuwait. Especially those companies that are in the renewable energy business. Since the awareness is still low, whoever uses the chance has the possibility of becoming a pioneer and tightly grab the opportunities on the market.

If you are thinking about moving your offices, you should know that transporting office supplies to your new address is now easier than ever. It is important not to lose any time, the sooner you start with the process, the better.

The future of renewable energy in Kuwait

With all that has been said, I can say that Kuwait has a bright future when it comes to renewable energy. However, it is crucial to raise awareness. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research is working on many future projects. One worth mentioning is the development of solar plants, located at Shagaya Renewable Energy Park. Nevertheless, it is crucial to raise awareness among people, and help them embrace renewable energy in Kuwait. Nothing is possible without the demand!

This article was kindly written and contributed by Sally Norton.

Hotels Embracing Renewable Energy

The first two decades of the 21st century have brought a plethora of changes to the world of energy, on a global scale.

Sure, the effects of energy pollution on climate change have been apparent to both the scientific community and the wider public for ages. However, it’s only recently that both countries and large corporate entities have truly seen the need to go green in order to save the planet from negative climate change and actually started working on it.

You’ll find this idea in basically all industries – and, perhaps not quite obviously – the tourism sector. If you want to find out all about hotels embracing renewable energy: read on below!

Hotels embracing renewable energy in Australia

The Australian tourism sector is quite developed. But despite the need to chase profits, the industry leaders in this sector have put a lot of effort into hotels embracing renewable energy in the past couple of years. Plus, with the awareness of climate change becoming basically omnipresent, people have started thinking about the pollution effects even when they choose where they’ll go on holiday. Thus, going green even has some palpable fiscal benefits for the hotels which are willing to invest the time and money to do this. Indeed, it’s become more about the journey, and less about the destination. People don’t want to go to hotels which are obvious contributors to global energy pollution, especially if we’re talking about large resorts, with a major energy footprint.

 That’s why an ever-increasing number of hoteliers in Australia have made themselves a mission to change how they view energy consumption. En masse, they’ve begun embarking on a switch to renewable sources of energy. Sure, they’re doing this to help the environment, somewhat; but their main goal is still attracting people going on holiday. And if you ask us, there is nothing wrong with this; a good deed is still good even if it’s driven by self-interest. Plus, you’ll find that industries can have a hard time going green; not only is the transition expensive, but it can be costly to maintain as well. Especially when you need to be transporting commercial supplies in no time, and quick transport usually means leaving a carbon footprint. hotels embracing renewable energy

Combining the pleasant with the useful

While most hotels embracing renewable energy still need affordable units for storing commercial supplies and similar amenities, they’re finding ways to utilise their natural locations to sustain themselves via renewable energy. Indeed, the very geographical features which the hotels use to their advantage when it comes to attracting tourists are now used to power them as well. We’re talking about using the natural tidal and solar capacity of remote beach locations, as well as the potential for being powered by geothermal power when it comes to hot spring hotels and resorts.

 That’s why you’ll find that in places like Queensland, resorts have been more prone to using solar panels to utilise their locations. Plus, the effort to reduce carbon energy usage is also tied to the need to preserve the Great Barrier Reef which is visited by most of the guests. For resorts which are located in locales that are abundant in desert heat, there’s really no reason not to try using renewable energy sources.

Ecotourism is all the rage

Indeed, ecotourism is becoming a viable way to go on holiday, and more and more hotels are keenly becoming aware of this. For example, take a look at the Bass Strait. This location separates Tasmania from Australia proper. And there, you’ll find ecotourism spots like Flinders Island. The hotels in this intriguing location utilise an energy system based on tidal changes; harnessing the titanic waves which hit the Island’s coastline. Or if you have a look at the Blue Mountains located near Sydney; you’ll also find hotels using wind energy to power themselves almost indefinitely. All of these natural locations allow for sustainability with minimal effort.

This is something that the local tourism sector in Australia is keenly observing in an effort to stay ahead of the curve. In fact, the most remote destinations for a holiday in Australia are actually using it the most. The reason is fairly simple – in such locations, resorts would otherwise have to use smaller sources of fossil fuel power – which are noisy, and could disrupt anyone’s location. Plus, such remote locations usually have the geographical properties which are best suited for hotels embracing renewable energy. Generating diesel-based power would simply be the worst choice, both fiscally and economically. Once the hotels construct sources of solar and wind energy, no further diesel fuel deliveries are needed, while also cutting down on long-term maintenance costs.

The trip itself

Naturally, when people visit far-flung hotels embracing renewable energy, that doesn’t mean that their holiday is completely in sync with their ecological stances. Let’s remember – such trips usually involve carbon-heavy means of transportation, such as long car rides, or flights which are obviously carbon-intensive. But as an increasing number of industries starts caring about building a sustainable world, even this may not present a problem in a couple of years.

In the meantime, eco-conscious customers are finding ways to make up for their carbon-heavy flights to remote locations. A couple of hostel chains in Australia have even made an organised effort for people who book their rooms to donate money towards organisations battling carbon pollution. And once more eco-friendly ways of travelling quickly across greater distances become an option, even this won’t be needed.

This article was kindly written and contributed by Sally Norton.

What are the Benefits of Renewable Energy Use?

Renewable energy, or clean energy, comes for natural processes that are regularly replenished. For example – sunlight and wind.

The sun keeps shining and the wind keeps blowing. Many people think of renewable energy as a new technology, but in fact, we have been using it for a long time for lighting, heating, and transportation. It is true that people have been using cheaper but dirty energy like coal or gas for the last five hundred years. However, now that scientists have found less expensive methods of capturing wind and solar energy, tables are turning. Renewable energy is booming and what is most important, people are starting to understand its benefits. So, without further ado, here is how we can benefit from renewable energy use.

Less Global Warming

Human activity is overwhelming and burdening our atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other emissions. Because of it, we have incessant storms, sea-level rise, drought, extinction, and many other extremely harmful impacts. In contrast, renewable energy does not have any emissions that are harmful to the atmosphere. This is because renewable energy comes from green and clean sources. So, if we turn to using renewable energy, we will be saving our atmosphere and our planet, that is, we will be responding to global warming. Not to mention, we will keep our environment safer and cleaner for generations to come.

Inexhaustible Source of Energy

Renewable energy will just not run out. And that is one of its strongest benefits. This cannot be said for fuel, gas, and coal. Even now, it is getting hard to obtain them, and it will probably be even harder in the future. However, fast-moving water, heath from the earth, strong winds and sunny skies are always going to be here for us. And they will provide a constant supply of energy. By using these inexhaustible sources of energy we will be more independent.

Improves Public Health

Health is the most important thing. But, we are affecting and damaging our health with pollution. Pollution affects everyone; there is no doubt in that. By constant use of coal and gas plants, we are polluting air and water, which then creates breathing problems, heart attacks, cancer, premature death, and numerous other diseases. But, by using clean and renewable energy we can stabilise the greenhouse effect, improve the quality of water we drink and the air we breathe. This will not only improve public health but also save many lives as well. People are slowly starting to understand the benefits of living in a ‘clean’ country. So, should you decide to relocate overseas, make sure that you are moving to a place that is using renewable sources.

Gives Independence

Renewable energy helps people and households gain morWhat are the Benefits of Renewable Energy Use?e independence. It is self-generated and as such helps people become independent from the coal-powered energy. By installing solar panels on your home or business, you instantly reduce your dependence on electricity and all the fees that come with it. Moreover, any solar energy that you generated but did not use, is sent back to the utility company. You can also install batteries and become even more independent as they will collect and store all the solar energy which you can use later on when your power usage overtakes what your solar panels are generating. By doing this, we are helping build a more sustainable world.

Saves Money

Using renewable energy will definitely help you save money in the long run. You only have to pay for the initial cost of construction and setup, and the whole thing will quickly begin to pay for itself. You will also save money on maintenance and operating costs as well. This is because you do not have to pay for the refuel. Sunshine is bountiful and we can easily capture it with solar panels. The same goes for wind and other sources of renewable energy. They are free. As previously mentioned, the only investment is to create a facility where energy power will be converted into electricity. This first investment might seem expensive, but soon, you will realise that you are saving anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Creates Jobs

Renewable energy creates more jobs as it is more labor-intensive than fossil fuel sources of energy. Just think about it. People need to install solar panels, and technicians need to maintain them. This applies to all renewable energy technologies. Today, thousands of people are working for this industry and according to some research, by 2030 even more people will be employed, that is, approximately 24 million people. And, increased support for renewable energy may create even more job positions. Two biggest renewable energy industries are the wind and the solar industry.

  • The wind industry needs a variety of employees. For example, in 2016, more than 100,000 people were hired to work in manufacturing, construction and turbine installation, project creation and development, transportation, logistics, finances, legal and consulting services, and many more. Moreover, many new factories are being open every day.
  • The solar industry is one of the biggest ones and it employs the biggest number of people. This industry employed more than 260,000 people in 2016.

 Lower Reliance on Foreign Energy Sources

Another benefit or renewable energy and its industries is that it can be produced locally and lower the reliance on foreign energy sources. Nowadays, the usage of fossil fuels is the most common. Even though it is polluting the atmosphere. The USA approximately imports 57% of fossil fuels from other countries in the Gulf. That is a lot of ‘dirty’ energy, which costs a lot as well. That is why by using renewable energy and reducing the dependency of fossil fuels can save both the economy and the environment.

This article was kindly written and contributed by Sally Norton.

How Do Food Scraps Turn Into Renewable Energy?

During a trip in India, Yair Teller, then a curious student and today the co-founder and CSO of Homebiogas, saw a family cooking on gas in a village of people who predominantly cooked over firewood. This was quite shocking.

The family used the biogas their biodigester produced from food waste to cook their food, and the fertilizer it produced to nourish flowers, which they then sold  in the market to create extra source of revenue. They got all of those benefits simply from recycling their cow’s manure in a biodigester.

Fast forward a few years and Yair was joined by Oshik Efrati (CEO) and Erez Lanzer (CFO). The three proceeded to start HomeBiogas the company in 2012, with the main goal of spreading affordable, sustainable and renewable energy to the whole world.

The Association for Sustainability in Business got the chance to speak with Yair about HomeBiogas, off the grid living and the importance of sustainable living.

Q. What is HomeBiogas?

A. Using an anaerobic process, the HomeBiogas 2.0 system takes organic waste (e.g. fruits, veggies, meat, dairy pits, seeds, animal manure etc.) and turns it into cooking gas and liquid fertilizer. This enables you to create renewable energy in your own backyard and close an eco-cycle!

Instead of throwing your food scraps in the garbage, where it will rot in landfills and will emit methane into the atmosphere, you can simply throw your food scraps into HomeBiogas 2.0. The system can accept up to 4KG of organic waste a day, and in return, produces up to 3 hours of cooking gas a day AND up to 12 L of liquid fertilizer a day. With an estimated life span of 10 years, the system is built in a modular way though, so any part can be easily replaced without replacing the entire system.

Inside the HomeBiogas 2.0 digester there is over 1,000 L of water and bacteria that consume the leftovers thrown inside the system. The bacteria break down the leftovers and emit methane, the main component of the biogas that allows the gas to be flammable for cooking.

The HomeBiogas 2.0 system arrives as a DIY (do-it-yourself) kit. You can assemble it in about an hour. To understand exactly what can you put inside the HomeBiogas 2.0 system, click here.

Q. What does it mean to live ‘off the grid?’

A. Living off the grid means being independent when it comes to resources, may it be water supply, electricity, cooking gas or even waste management.

People that choose to live off grid are self-sufficient people that rather use existing and every-day resources to live a more simple or sustainable life.

Because off gridders provide for themselves and their needs, they have a sense of freedom, independence and control over their lives.

Q. What else can you do to live more sustainably? 

A. Having an organic garden is a way of ensuring you take in all the good things that you need, and your food is free of things that can cause you harm (such as the pesticides). From an ecological standpoint- Growing food in your backyard requires much less energy than produce from the supermarket. Why? Produce from the supermarket is packaged with plastics and Styrofoam which cannot be recycled or broken down easily. This packaging is totally unnecessary for a home organic garden.

To get more information on HomeBiogas, browse the Knowledge Center.

Interested in finding out more about innovative sustainable solutions?

Explore the liveability of our metropolitan and regional urban centres at the 2018 Liveable Cities Conference this July.

This year’s conference will focus on sustainable transport solutions, greening and redesign of cities, renewing regional areas, integrating community decisions, government policy, health and wellbeing and strategies for environment implementation.

Register to secure your place here.